I read about Wordless Wednesday with a Twist at Andrea’s blog today. I love WW anyway, and I thought it might be fun to participate with a theme. Unfortunately, finding out about it so late didn’t leave much time for scouting vintage objects to photograph. What it does give me is an opportunity to feature some interesting images from our recent visit to the Smoky Mountain National Park.
I had an amazing high school English teacher. One of our assignments was to make a grave rubbing, the older and more unique, the better. This involved taking a large piece from a roll of white paper, holding it across the front of the headstone, and rubbing a crayon, pencil, or piece of charcoal across the front to make an imprint. Mine was made somewhere in Louisiana on a family trip, and I’ve been fascinated with old headstones ever since.
While visiting Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountain National Forest, I found this tombstone in the cemetery behind the Primitive Baptist Church:
The history of the incident can be found here, a tragic story of a father and son who found themselves on opposite sides in the Civil War.
The park has areas designated as “Quiet Walkways.” Our family spent a delightful afternoon on one of these. At one point our thirteen-year-old son climbed a small hill and veered off of the trail. When he rejoined us, he told me that he had found two graves. I really can’t describe the feeling when I topped that hill, but as I later told my husband, it was intense. Two gravestones stood in a clearing backed by a low stone wall. Upon closer inspection, however, I realized the clearing was full of small, unmarked stone headstones.
A Google search turned up this page about Vance Newman, so now I know the cemetery we found is called Cole Cemetery.
I also posted a new photo with vintage style on my photoblog.
If you subscribe to this blog, I’ve had some feed issues lately so please check your subscription. It totally disappeared on Bloglines.
Visit 5 Minutes for Mom or Wordless Wednesday for more Wordless Wednesday participants.
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Very cool shots, Dawn. It was fun talking with you today. Hope you enjoyed your movie! :D
Dianne-Bunny Trailss last blog post..Stuff Diet
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that’s kind of a weird graveyard. good captures.
carrie-the gremlin wranglers last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Family Resemblance
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great pictures. I love learning about the history of the people who died. It makes it more real.
Tiff@Three Peas in a Pods last blog post..Macaroni & Muffins
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Wow neat shots!
Kelseys last blog post..::Life Is…::
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so your a sleuth as well as an excellent photographer! i’m a WW gal too.
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Wow, Dawn. You are so right. Intense is the only way I can describe the feeling I had as I looked at your photos.
The way you captured the images, and then wove the stories all together here is incredible. You have a wonderful gift.
Happy WWWAT!
-Andrea
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Those are great pictures. Maybe I’m wierd, but I love looking at old graves. I like to try to imagine what their lives would have been like. Thanks for joining in!
And is this Dawn from Barefoot Blogs? I’m a big fan of yours! I love your designs. I feel like a celebrity has dropped by my page!
Rachels last blog post..WWWAT: Vintage
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Interesting place to find the vintage stuff!
LOL.
Come by and take a look at my garden. Happy WW!
Jan @ Bold & Frees last blog post..My Garden/yard – WW#17
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eerie and beautiful. great entries :)
Dzois last blog post..Data Protection
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Great cemetery shots. Happy Wednesday!
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Fascinating post! I can’t pass an old cemetery by…so much life in them (pun intended). Happy WW.
Junes last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Pump Hose
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What a great take on vintage! I love the story that goes along with the photo’s as well.
ashlies last blog post..WWWAT
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I love this post. I have always loved old cemetaries and have always wanted to walk through one.
There are so many stories there!
You did an amazing job capturing these pictures. It must have been pretty amazing.
Tarrahs last blog post..WWWAT – Vintage
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The small town I grew up in had small family cemeteries, we used to play in one near my house. My mom was horrified when she found ou but I still love the peaceful feeling of an old graveyard.
shannons last blog post..Wordless Wednesday-Way To Go Dave!
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Oh I love taking photo of old graves, the stories there must be amazing!
Nodins Nests last blog post..The Barefoot Artist
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Great story and great pictures. I love that intense feeling. The pictures give me goosebumps, in a good way.
Melissas last blog post..Wordless Wednesday- With a Twist
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there’s something so sobering about looking at the gravestones of those who went before us… I really love this post, and you did an EXCELLENT job capturing this beauty :)
amandas last blog post..WWWAT: Vintage
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How neat! I love going to the Civil War Battlefield we have in town. It’s just so neat and full of history.
Thanks for sharing this!
Jills last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Burning Down The House
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Wow, what fabulous shots. Such sad stories…
Seems like a wonderful journey through there.
Happy WW!
Allisons last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Dinner Time!
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What a great idea. The B&W really makes the tone of the photos so much stronger. Very nice.
Not Afraid To Use Its last blog post..WW: Cowgirl Adventures (Fun At the GYN)
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I have always found it incredibly peaceful to walk through old graveyards and the history is amazing!!!
Great post!!
Laura@StorytellinMamas last blog post..Can’t a guy get a little shut-eye around here?
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I’m completely fascinated by old, old cemeteries like this Dawn. When I see graves this old, it makes me so want to know the story behind each one.
Don’t feel lonely – Bloglines lost me too. Apparently, it found me again last night and people who thought I was on a permanent vacation were very surprised when I showed up with 12 new posts. Very, very frustrating, isn’t it?
I’m making sure I resubscribe to you right now. I have so many feeds, it takes a while to notice when one disappears. Heck! It took me four days to realize I MYSELF had disappeared. LOL
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Think of all the heartache and loss this represents.
Sukhmandir Kaurs last blog post..Nagar Kirtan – Guru Granth Sahib
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Old graveyards have always fascinated me…I think through the stories behind them all…Thanks for taking us on your trip!
Happy WWWAT!
Lauras last blog post..Happy (Not So) Wordless Wednesday (With a twist!)
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What fantastic pictures! I just love cemeteries! This is the first time I’ve ever visited your blog (let alone commented) so I hope that doesnt make me sound creepy (ha!). I grew up next to a graveyard so they just don’t seem scary or morbid to me at all. There’s so much fascinating history there to be discovered!
Thanks for sharing :)
Mrs. Staff Sergeants last blog post..A Vintage Treasure
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Very interesting! Great cemetery photos, what a cool idea. Glad I stopped by – happy WWWAT!
Shannons last blog post..WWWAT – Vintage
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I love cemeteries and the history found there. And to find a surprise in the woods like that is always intriguing.
Lisa’s Chaoss last blog post..hula hooping
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This is sooo cool! I love the fact that we can touch the past in real and tangeble ways with our kids.
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These are beautiful, thanks for sharing!
Muthering Heightss last blog post..An Ideal Husband
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That could be an interesting hobby – visiting and researching tombstones.
Maisies last blog post..13 Things That I Have in My Refrigerator
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Wow! Look at all these comments! Lucky you! ;) I love it when something sparks a comment fest. It is nice to hear from people and know what they are thinking.
I love old graves, too. When I was learning photography in college, there was this old house and cemetery right down the road from the college. We always took photos there… the whole class. They make such pretty black and whites.
sprittibees last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Puff
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Great shots and a great story to go with it! I love discovering things while we’re out and about. Enjoy your week!
Deannas last blog post..A Day at Tybee Island
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I love taking pictures of old grave sites. Great shots!
tonyas last blog post..Wordless Wednesday Pure Joy
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I love old headstones and I love the way you captured them!
Courtneys last blog post..What we’re going to do…
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Vance Newman was my great-great-great grandfather. Very nice. I’ve never been to see the grave, so its neat you photographed it.
Vance Newman was also my great-great-great grandfather. He was a Union organizer in Sevier County and it is thus ironic that the only other marked grave is that of a Confederate vet from the small community.